posted 02-16-2012 10:59 AM
First time to this forum. I have an item that a friend gave me to sell that I am trying to find info on.

It is a framed NASA sketch in blue ink by (?) Shankles presented by Brad Ragan, Inc. The sketch is made up of pictures of Truly, Engle, Young, and Crippen, and the space shuttle. It has three patches on top of the sketch: Columbia Young-Crippen first flight April 12, 1981, Columbia Engle-Truly, and space shuttle. The following is printed on the bottom left side:

Congratulations NASA, Columbia and Crews — John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen, and Joe H. Engle and Richard H. Truly. You have reaffirmed America as the leader in space exploration and again focused the eyes of the world on our high technology. America has a rich heritage as a frontier nation and with the reusable space shuttle we have a practical system to reach out for the benefits of a vast new frontier. We can all be proud of this truly unique American achievement.

I would like to find out if these were massed produced or if possibly it was a memento given to the crew, etc. I would also like to know if it has any monetary value. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

stsmithvaMember

Posts: 1579From: Fairfax, VA, USARegistered: Feb 2007

posted 02-16-2012 03:08 PM
Welcome to collectSPACE. That item was mass produced (that is, it's a print, not original blue ink) but I don't know in what numbers. I bought an identical one on eBay a few months ago, but I can't help you with the value because mine came with a card hand-signed by all four crew members, which obviously drove up the price.

rosieoneNew Member

Posts: From: Registered:

posted 02-16-2012 04:25 PM
Thank you for your reply. I would like to search for it on eBay. Could you give me the title or what they call it? Thanks in advance.

stsmithvaMember

Posts: 1579From: Fairfax, VA, USARegistered: Feb 2007

posted 02-16-2012 06:48 PM
I bought it at least six months ago, so I'm afraid it will no longer be available for viewing on eBay. Unless there is some way of doing that which someone else can post.

Rob JoynerMember

Posts: 1308From: GA, USARegistered: Jan 2004

posted 02-17-2012 01:01 AM
This might be a print by an artist who usually goes by only 'Sharles' (first name William). Though he is known for brightly colored oils and also sculptures, it's possible he was commissioned to do this print back then.

Could it be only 81 of these prints were made? If you look below his name, under the left wing, it reads 12/81. Maybe print #12 of 81?

To Steve: I don't mean to get personal but could you tell me what you paid for the piece? I realize yours would be more valuable because of the signatures but at least it would give me a starting point.

Kevin T. RandallMember

Posts: 552From: High Wycombe, Bucks UKRegistered: Dec 2008

posted 02-17-2012 01:28 PM
The framed item Steve won was Lot No.20064298804, sold for $212.50 with 17 bids from 6 bidders, on 28th August 2011.

Besides the print and the three mounted AB Emblem patches, the lot included one extra STS-1 patch, and a "clipped card with the original pen signatures of all four astronauts that participated in these two flights." That is the part of this lot which is worth the final price, that and the former owner was Paul E. Gilsdorf the vice president of sales and marketing for AB Emblem Co. who manufactured the patches. This presentation piece came from his estate.

All three patches that are part of this piece look to be first production run patches, the STS Program patch certainly is, because post ALT it was re-vamped and made slightly larger to what it is to-day. (The loose fourth STS-1 patch is the modern version of the original AB Emblem STS-1 patch). These print presentation pieces were probably produced at the end of November 1981, likely no more than 100 pieces.

The dates 12/81 refers to April 12th 1981 for the STS-1 flight, and November 12th 1981 for the STS-2 flight.

A second one of these framed items was listed on eBay on 1st September 2011 Lot No. 150657661695 (less the fourth patch and the signed card), for a Buy It Now of $299.00. Over the listing period of 30 days it was reduced to $99.00, $69.00, $49.99, $29.99, and finally sold for $19.99.

I think there was a third one of these items listed but I can't find a sale for it. Sorry, it was probably unsold.

rosieoneNew Member

Posts: From: Registered:

posted 02-17-2012 01:40 PM
Thank you so much for the info. I will tell my friend. And thank you to all the other members who replied to this post. I appreciate your help.

stsmithvaMember

Posts: 1579From: Fairfax, VA, USARegistered: Feb 2007

posted 02-17-2012 05:29 PM
Holy moley, Kevin, that is an amazing amount of detail! I just learned more about it than I learned in the seven months I've owned it!

(I bought it mostly for the card, since as amazing as STS-1 was, I am fascinated by the fact that the STS-2 was the first to fly a spacecraft that had already flown, and I've only seen a handful of items signed by all four crewmen. But the print and patch presentation is very nice too.)

Kevin T. RandallMember

Posts: 552From: High Wycombe, Bucks UKRegistered: Dec 2008

posted 02-18-2012 03:47 AM
Yes Steve, a list of nine crew signed and patch presentation pieces belonging to the estate of Paul E. Gilsdorf was put up for auction on eBay by an estate agent based in North Carolina called 'Fresh-from-estates-to-you' during August 2011. Most were one off unique pieces.

If you would like a full list of each of the presentation pieces, a description of each, and what they sold for, let me know.